THE Daylesford Football Club will live to play another day, thanks to Central Highlands Football League president Reg Haintz.
Mr Haintz cast the deciding vote to admit Daylesford into the CHFL, breaking a deadlock among the 13 member clubs at a meeting on November 15.
Club president John Goullet said the one-vote win saved the club.
"The club would have ceased to exist if we didn't get in," he said.
The vote stood at 16-16 when Mr Haintz had the final say under CHFL constitution.
Daylesford president John Goullet attended the meeting with Daylesford Junior Football Club president Darryl Williams and vice president Bernie Jurcan.
"We were very nervous when the vote stood at 16-all," he said.
"I was confident that Reg Haintz would give a lifeline to Daylesford."
Mr Goullet said he was very appreciative of Mr Haintz for voting the club's way.
Daylesford Football Club applied to join the CHFL last month, wanting to create a pathway to senior level for junior players.
The club will field senior and reserve football and netball sides, as well as under-15 and under-18 teams.
The club's juniors will stay affiliated with the Maryborough-Castlemaine District Football League.
"The club had to take this step because the club wasn't financially able to compete with big city clubs," Mr Goullet said.
"The Daylesford junior competition is fully supportive of our move and will see a full competition of teams playing."
Mr Goullet said the club's history would be retained.
"While this is an unfortunate interruption to the club's history, it's an opportunity to reignite the interaction in the local community in Daylesford," he said.
Mr Goullet said there would be changes made to the colour of Daylesford's uniform.
"The colour change is necessary because there is conflict with Bungaree, an existing club in the CHFL," he said.
On Tuesday, December 13, a special general meeting of Daylesford Football Club members and life members will be held at Victoria Park.
"At this meeting, members will be asked to amend the constitution to permit the club to move to CHFL and change its colours," Mr Goullet said.
He said all players supported the move.
"It will be terrific with Hepburn versus Daylesford," he said.
BFL chief executive officer Rod Ward was thankful Daylesford was voted into the CHFL.
"It's a sad day for the BFL because they have been in the league since 1952," he said.
"I'm thankful the juniors have opportunity to play. It's their only hope for survival."
Mr Ward said the BFL tried very hard to entice Daylesford juniors back into the BFL.
He said the BFL will now consist of 10 clubs.
"It will be a healthy competition," he said.
"Teams will play each other twice."
Daylesford Football Club has only won one premiership in the BFL. That was 44 years ago in 1961.
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